Alan J Gibson, QFP, FCMI, is an experienced franchise consultant with The Franchising Centre, a UK team that helps people turn their businesses into successful franchises. He has provided us with wise and informative articles over the last six months, and ends now with tips on how to ensure that you stick to your new year's resolution of going through the process of becoming a franchisee:
I can always tell when it's getting towards the end of January because you can find a parking space in the gym car park, the number of Weight Watchers adverts on the TV is going down, and you see fewer and fewer people jogging on the streets.
It is traditional at the start of the New Year to 'make a promise of self-improvement' and the most common of these are as follows:
- Improve health – losing weight, giving up smoking and exercising more.
- Improve mental outlook – be more positive, smile more and live life to the fullest.
- Improve finances – pay off debts, save money and secure your future.
- Improve career – start your own business, be your own boss and get rewarded for your hard work.
- Improve education – learn a language, take a course, read more books.
For most people, the good-intentioned New Year's resolutions, made only a few weeks ago, are unfortunately falling by the wayside and the 11 month countdown to another personal 're-launch' is starting all over again.
STOP
It doesn’t have to be like that...
Is one of your goals this year to be your own boss, and start your own business? Instead of spending the rest of 2015 getting stuck in the same old career rut and wishing you’d kept to your resolutions, set yourself some goals and targets for the rest of the year and follow these simple tips.
- Don’t set too many goals – decide on 3-5 maximum and put all your focus and efforts into accomplishing them.
- Make them realistic – too many people set unrealistic and unachievable goals from Day 1 and lose heart quickly when they don’t recognise progress.
- Write your goals down – committing your goals to writing not only helps you to remember them but it makes them real and reminds you of what you are looking to achieve.
- Keep track of progress – make sure you take note of your starting point for each of your goals so that you can keep track of the improvements you are making.
- Make commitments – share your goals with those who will support and encourage you. Many people find that sharing keeps them on track and focused on delivery.
- Celebrate success – make sure you set mini milestones along the way and take time to reflect on and recognise these achievements when they occur.
I hope my recent series of articles has given you some interesting and informative advice on the significant benefits of choosing a franchise.
In the first post we looked at 'The Top Ten Reasons to Buy a Franchise'. The second identified 'The Five Types of Potential Franchisee'. The third provided guidance on 'How to Find Your Ideal Franchise', and the fourth covered 'The Practical Steps to Becoming a Franchisee'. Article number five gave advice on writing your business plan, and finally, number six offered you 'The Secrets of Pitching for Franchise Investment'.
This CAN be your year, and by following the simple steps outlined above you could achieve your goals and start that business you have always dreamed of. The key to success is to take action, and start today!